In Japan, a shrine (jinja, 神社) is a place of worship in Shinto, the indigenous religion that honours kami (神) — sacred spirits tied to nature, ancestors, heroes, and remarkable places. Unlike a church or temple built mainly for sermons, a shrine is a living threshold between everyday life and the sacred: a grove, a gate, a hall, and open ground where people pause, bow, and leave offerings.
Shrines appear throughout daily life in Japan. Neighbours visit a local ujigami shrine for protection; students pray for exams at a Tenjin shrine; merchants favour Inari shrines; families buy omamori charms and draw omikuji fortune slips; and at New Year millions attend hatsumōde (初詣), the first shrine visit of the year. Festivals (matsuri), weddings, and seasonal rituals still centre on shrine communities, even when faith is quiet or personal.
Many shrine grounds also overlap with the world of folklore on this site. Fox messengers at Inari shrines connect to kitsune legends; thunder kami echo Raijin; boundary stones and sacred trees often appear in yōkai tales. Understanding shrines helps place those creatures in their real cultural setting — not only as story monsters, but as beings once approached with respect at the altar.
Search by name, prefecture, city, or shrine type below. Each listing notes enshrined kami, location, and a short description where available. Open a shrine page for maps, visitor notes, and links to official sites when we have them.
30,440 shrines found
Sarutahiko Shrine
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Sarutahiko-no-OkamiA Shinto shrine dedicated to Sarutahiko-no-Okami, the deity who guided the heavenly grandson Ninigi-...
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Sarutahiko Shrine
Wakayama
Sarutahiko OkamiA Shinto shrine dedicated to Sarutahiko Okami, the deity of guidance, crossroads, and safe travel. S...
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Sarutahiko Shrine
Nara
Sarutahiko-no-Okami, road and crossroads deityA Shinto shrine dedicated to Sarutahiko-no-Okami, the kami of roads, crossroads, and guidance. Also...
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Sarutahiko Shrine
Tokyo
SarutahikoSarutahiko Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the Bunkyo ward of Tokyo, dedicated to the kami Saru...
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Sasaisuga Shrine
Fukuoka
Namazu-eSasaisuga Shrine, located in Fukuoka Prefecture, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the protection of s...
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Sasaki Shrine
Shiga
Sasaki Ō no OkamiSasaki Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Hikone, Shiga Prefecture. The shrine is dedi...
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Sasaki Shrine
Kochi
A local Shinto shrine located in Kochi Prefecture, serving the spiritual needs of the surrounding co...
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Sasame-jinja Shrine
Saitama
Located in the heart of Japan, the Sasame-jinja Shrine is a serene Shinto sanctuary dedicated to the...
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Sasaoka Shrine
Kochi
A local Shinto shrine located in Kochi Prefecture, serving the spiritual needs of the surrounding co...
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Sasayama Shrine
Kochi
Hachiman (god of war and divine protection)Sasayama Shrine is a Hachiman shrine located in Kochi Prefecture, dedicated to the deified Emperor O...
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Sasazuka Saegusa Shrine
Ibaraki
Saegusa no OkamiLocated in the historic town of Sasazuka, Ibaraki Prefecture, Sasazuka Saegusa Shrine is a Shinto sh...
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Satomiya Shrine
Kumamoto
A local Shinto shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture serving as a spiritual center for the surrounding commu...
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Satomiya-jinja Shrine
Yamanashi
nullLocated in the heart of Yamanashi Prefecture, Satomiya-jinja Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to...
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Sawa Shrine
西伊豆町, 静岡県
Sawa Shrine, located in the scenic town of Izu City on the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture, is...
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Sawataki Fudo-son
Kanagawa
Fudo Myo-o (Acala)A Buddhist temple dedicated to Fudo Myo-o, one of the Five Wisdom Kings in Japanese Buddhism. The na...
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Sayama-jinja Shrine
Saitama
AmaterasuLocated in the heart of Sayama City, Sayama-jinja Shrine is one of Japan's oldest and most revered s...
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Sayama-jinja Shrine
Ibaraki
nullSayama-jinja Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the town of Kashima, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. Th...
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Seikou Inari Shrine
Chiba
InariSeikou Inari Shrine is a Shinto temple located in the Chiba Prefecture, dedicated to the worship of...
View shrine →Jump to Shinto shrines across Japan — 108 prefectures in our directory.
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